Millwall defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at The Den in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
A debut goal for Josh Coburn and a fourth strike of the campaign for Millwall Community Trust (MCT) Lions Living (Sustainability) Ambassador Duncan Watmore put Millwall into a 2-0 lead, with MCT Disability Ambassador Jake Cooper adding the gloss late on for a first - much deserved and much needed - win of the 2024/25 season.
Neil Harris opted for one change to his starting XI against The Owls, as Coburn came in for his Lions debut in place of the injured Tom Bradshaw.Six of the club's summer signings - Liam Roberts, Femi Azeez, Daniel Kelly, Ryan Wintle, Macaulay Langstaff and Calum Scanlon - started on the bench, meanwhile.
Coburn instantly began to endear himself to the Den's faithful by charging down James Beadle's kick in the opening moments, with Japhet Tanganga then having to recover well in the third minute as he blocked a shot after initially slipping inside the penalty area.
Watmore battled through the midfield on 11 minutes to set up Romain Esse, but the through-ball was perhaps the wrong choice as Ryan Leonard lay in wait, unmarked, on the right-hand side; Esse's shot being blocked behind.
George Honeyman's deep free-kick was then nodded towards goal by Tanganga, but with the header going wide, Coburn was in an offside position as he was struck on the edge of the six-yard box. Watmore's curling effort was blocked as The Lions continued to begin the game at a high tempo, with Coburn then charging towards goal - only to be crowded out - and Esse's hit to be deflected behind as a strong first 20 minutes came to a conclusion.
At the other end, meanwhile, Cooper had to pay close attention to Jamal Lowe as he made Wednesday's first advance into the Millwall penalty area, but there was brief respite for The Owls' defence as Esse sprayed a pass to Leonard on 23 minutes; he crossed for the diving Coburn, who was just unable to make connection with the ball yards out.
Cooper was the next to nod just wide of the near post as Millwall's chances continued to flow - Leonard prodded wide at the back post on 31 minutes, but as Bryan's long-range attempt flew high and wide on the stroke of 45 minutes, The Lions went in at half-time goalless.
Millwall worked the ball into the box at the beginning of the second-half but were unable to pull the trigger, whilst they had Leonard to be thankful for at the other end moments later as he raced to execute a perfect sliding challenge on Anthony Musaba.Owls captain Barry Bannan whipped a free-kick over the crossbar in a rare Wednesday chance, before Tanganga swung a leg at an effort from the edge of the box which flew wide.
Coburn's ability to win his side the ball back then allowed Casper De Norre to thread a pass through to Watmore - but his strike was saved by Beadle - and with 58 minutes on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken as a move involving George Honeyman and Watmore ended with the new man springing the offside trap to fire into the roof of the net.
Max Lowe's drive was blocked by George Saville as Wednesday looked to hit back, before some last-ditch defending ensured Lukas Jensen's sheet was kept clean on 66 minutes. On 71 minutes, however, despite Wednesday's best attempts to wrestle numerous Millwall players to the ground, the lead was doubled as Bryan's corner was knocked on at the front post by Coburn and into the path of Watmore, who had the easiest of tasks of thumping home.Coburn left the pitch to a standing ovation 12 minutes from time - Langstaff his replacement - with Wintle making his Lions debut on 85 minutes as he came on for the tireless Watmore.
There was time for one more goal with three minutes left to play as Cooper's header at the back post was judged to have crossed the line by referee Leigh Doughty, with that same man blowing the final whistle minutes later on a very good day for The Lions.
